With the fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.
Parallel translations
- WEB A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
- KJV A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
- BSB From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
- NKJV A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.
- NLT Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A person reaps the consequences of his own words. We are nourished, for good or ill, by what we speak.
Overview
This proverb teaches that the fruit of one's mouth fills and satisfies the speaker, for words have real consequences that return upon the one who utters them. Set beside verse 21, it stresses the weighty results of speech. The wise therefore guard their tongues, knowing that gracious, truthful words yield good fruit, while corrupt words bring bitter harvest (Matt. 12:37).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Prov 25:11–12A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
- Prov 12:13–14An evil man is trapped by sinfulness of lips, but the righteous shall come out of trouble.
- Prov 13:2By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things; but the unfaithful crave violence.
- Prov 22:18For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
- Prov 22:21To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 18:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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